Eye-operating mechanism for dolls.



J. M. DAVIDSON. EYE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DOLLS.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 3.19I7.

Patented Dec. 31,1918.

3 SHEETS-SHEET I WW I W nu: mums versus :0. puamumu. vusmuamm 1 J. M. DAVIDSON. EYE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR amps.

APPLICATION FILED OCT- 3.1911

8 R H m no m S V ,.L. W C5 DU m m3 H n Dr 0 m 2 7M 2 Z I? 0 3 72 7H 5 W 7 2 W 2 S 9 s a N 2 n 1 W da/m/ M 0/91/0504 ATTORNEYS J. M. DAVIDSON.

EYE OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DOLLS APPLICATION FILED 0013,1917.

1,289,687, Patented D60. 31, 1918.

3 sussrs-suzn a.

A TTORNEYS JOHN MITCHELL DAVIDSON, 0F XENIA, OHIO.

EYE-OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DOLLS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 31, 1918.

Application filed October 3, 1917. Serial No. 194,487.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. DAVIDSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Xenia, in the county of Greene and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Eye-Operating Mechanism for Dolls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in eye operating mechanism for dolls, and has for its object to provide mechanism in connection with the eyes of dolls for causing the said eyes to blink when the doll is moved from an upright to recumbent position, or from recumbent to upright position.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a sectional view of the doll provided with my improved eye operating mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the operating mechanism, with the eyes attached;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the same;

Fig. 4 is a side view of a doll head showing another embodiment of the invention, the head being in section;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the mechanism removed;

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the supporting bracket for the mechanism;

Fig. 7 is a top plan view;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the eyes and their support;

Fig. 8 is a modification of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 to 8, whereby the spring which is necessary in the structure illustrated in said figures may be dispensed with;

Fig. 9 is a side View of another embod1- ment of the invention, with parts in section;

Fig. 10 is a rear view of the same;

Fig. 11 is a bottom plan view;

Figs. 12, 13 and 14 are side views of other embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 15 is a section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 14, looking in the direction of the arrows adjacent to the line.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 3, the eyes 1 of the doll 2 are mounted on ashaft 3 which is journaled in the head, the shaft 3 being at the centers of the spherical eyes. A longitudinally slotted arm 4 is rigid with the shaft between the eyes, and the slot 5 of the arm is engaged by a pin 6 on a crank arm 7 secured to a pinion 8, which is journaled on a shaft 9 arranged in rear of the shaft 3. This pinion meshes with a gear wheel 10 journaled on the shaft 11 in rear of the shaft 8, and a pinion 12 is secured to the gear wheel 10 coaxial therewith. This pinion meshes with the teeth of an arc-shaped rack bar 13 which extends outwardly and upwardly from an arm 14 journaled at its upper end on the shaft 9,-and provided at its lower end with a weight 15. The weight 15, when the doll is in upright position, occupies the position of Fig. 1, resting against a buffer stop 16 within the head.

When the doll is moved from upright to recumbent position, the weight 15 will swing the arm 14 and the rack bar 13 will rotate the pinion 12 and the gear wheel 10. The gear wheel, because of its engagement with the pinion 8, will rotate the said pinion, causing also the arm 7 to move the slotted arm 4. The pin 6 moves in the slot, and as the arm 7 is rotated about the shaft 9 the eyes 1 will swing with the shaft 3 to simulate blinking of the eyes. It is to be understood that the shaft 9 is suitably journaled and that it terminates at the arm 7, so as to allow the arm 4 to oscillate without interference. Because of the larger size of the gear wheel, the pinion 8 will move much faster and the shaft 3 may be completely rotated as many times for each complete rotation of the shaft 11 as may be desired, the ratio depending upon the relative proportion of the gear wheel and pinion. In the present construction, the parts are arranged to cause the doll to blink twice during the movement from upright to recumbent position, or from recumbent to upright position. The buffer stop 16 is so placed that the motion of the eyes will be stopped with the pupils in proper position with respect to the face. The end of the rack 13 is provided with a flattened portion 13 adapted to engage a cushioned stop 16 and arrest the parts with the pupils of the eyes out of sight when the doll is in a recumbent position.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 8 the eyes 17 are secured to the ends of a crank shaft 18, and a roller 19 is journaled on the shaft. This shaft is journaled between two parallel bars 20, with I frame 27 isprovided,- the said frame con- 7 has a. crank that when moved in both directions by "do the intermediate undulations. .so' thatthe: eyes: will be entirely open :or entirely closedat' the end, while in their intermediate movements they only partially ropen and close. The: blinkingofithe eyes is *thus made to appear the space between the portions.

A counter-weight supporting shaft 23 'journaled between the .bars in rearflof the crank shaft, and" upon this shaft ears mounted a counter-weightv 24 and a species of segmental rack bar 25. It will be noticed that the teeth; of the rack bar are rounded, and these teeth/engage the roller" 19, the roller being pressed toward the rack by a spring 1'9 seen in Fig. -7. It will beobvious the doll is moved from upright to recliningposition, or the reverse, the

crank shaft will be oscillated to. give the blinking effect of the eyes.

A. stop. 26 is. arranged between the bars, the said stop engaging within the'segment to; limit the swinging movement of the counter-weight and: segment.

In the modification; shown in Flgz. 8? the plementary serrations; As the roller l9is the. undulations of, this slot no spring is necessary. This insures a very easy and smooth .movement of the eyes, 'particularlyif they'arewell -balanced.- The stop 26 is also unnecessary as the movement of the eyes is limited by the-rol1erg19, the ends of the-slot acting as stops.

of' the slot 25 carry the roller: farther than This is more natural.- 7 It is evident that this efiect may be obtained in the structure shown in Figs. 4 and. 5. In 'fact, it may be obtained in other of the structures shown in this application.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Figs.'9, 10 and 11, a suitable supporting sisting of a horizontaland. a vertical portioni 2 9 journaled in the frame, and the shaft arm 30 extending rearwardly and; connected by a link,31 with a. lever32 which is pivoted at 33 to the. frame.

rear end of the lever has a laterally extendmg engage the rounded teeth of aquadrantal plate 35 which is pivoted to. the frame at 36.

At each end ofthe teeth the platehas anextension 3 'Zand 38,- which, at their tops, limit the swinging; movement of 'the. seg- One of these portions has. which is connected with the I other portion, as shown, extending" across It will be noted that the "ends The; eyes 28 are-.secure'd to a shaft The roller 34, and this roller isadapted% to' inent under the influence of the counter- Acoil spring 40 acts normally to draw and hold the leverin the normal position ofFig. 9; 'Whent'he doll is'nioved from erect to reclining position or from reclining to erect position the segmental plate 35 will beswu ng and the teeth will vibrate the lever which, in turn, will oscillate the shaft to give a; blinking effect.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 12, the shaft. .41-- upon whicl1 the eyes.;42 aremounted; has a radial arm 43,

and this-armis adapted to be engagedv by the teeth of a fdisk like plate 44 mounted to rotate; on a shaft 45. A coilspring46. ,holds-the arm in engagement with the teeth, .andthe controlling counter-weight 47, is

secured to the free end ofthe'lever'48 having its other end=,pivoted..at49 to the frame 50. This lever hasja lateral arm. 51,. and the-arm is connected. by links 52 with pawl carriers 53 which are pivoted on the shaft 45 beforementioned. The ,pawls 54fof; the serrated rack 25 isdispla'cedaby the: seg- "-P V ent; 25%}, which has an undulating slot 25. The undulating margins-of the slot form in fact a pair'of racks having opposing comawl carriers-are adapted .to engage teeth ver swings in one direction under .the in- In Fig. 13 the eyesare: secured .to' a shaft 55 on the faceof'the plate. VVhenthe le- 56 which is journaledin the frame 57.. This 7 shaft has a crank. 58 carrying a roller 59 and theroller is adapted. toqbe; engagednby teeth 60 of a wheelgor plate- 6f mounted .to rotate on the shaft 62 also journaled in the frame. The roller is kept in engagement with the wheel 61 by a. spring; (vnot shown) wrapped around' the shaft 56, one end .of the spring the plate 61 is cut away rfor [approximately two hundredeeighty degrees-,1 as indi- 65, which is journaled at, '66- ona-the frame. A'lever 67 is: rigid with theysegment, and

being anchored to; theframe 57 and v1 the other to the wheel. ,.Abouti;the: center the lever carries .a. counter-weight 7.68 ;at. its:

1 free end.. A stop roller '69. is: mounted on r the frame within the opening 63-,-and by its "engagement with the endsof the! opening limits thesswingingv movementof the plate 61. With this construction, whenrthe-weight ii in;F-igs..14 and 15,, theeyesa 7 0% .aresecured :swingsgtheplate61 willbe oscillated; and the i eyes willbemoved tosimulate blinking; V 125.

toa. shaft 'll-having a radial. arm-.72., This arm is'connected by a link 7 3- with 'oneend ofa lever 74 pivoted: to: the frame (not ishown).. intermediate its ends, and; having at the other end a roller 75 which engages depending teeth 76 on a disk 77 secured to a shaft 78. This shaft has a toothed gear 7 9 at its lower end, which is engaged by a toothed gear 80, and a shaft 81 having a radial arm 82 to which the counterweight 83 is secured. A coil spring 84 acts normally to hold the lever in normal position.

In the operation of the above described construction, the swinging of the weight will oscillate the shaft and the swinging of the lever 74: by the teeth will rapidly oscillate the shaft 71.

I claim:

1. In a doll, eye operating mechanism, comprising a shaft journaled in the head and secured to the eyes at the axes thereof, and means for oscillating the shaft to cause the eyes to simulate blinking when the doll is moved from recumbent to upright or from upright to recumbent position.

2. In a doll, eye operating mechanism comprising a shaft to which the eyes are secured, and means for oscillating the shaft to cause the eyes to simulate blinking when the doll is moved from upright to recum bent position or from recumbent to upright position, said means comprising a toothed segment pivoted in rear of the shaft and carrying a counter-weight, the shaft having a crank intermediate its ends engaging the teeth, said crank carrying a roller for engaging the teeth, and a stop for limiting the movement of the segment.

3. In a doll, eye operating mechanism comprising a shaft to which the eyes are secured, and means for, oscillating the shaft to cause the eyes to simulate blinking when the doll is moved from upright to recumbent position or from recumbent to upright position, said means comprising a toothed segment pivoted in rear of the shaft and carrying a counter-weight, the shaft having a crank intermediate its ends engaging the teeth.

l. In a doll, eye operating mechanism, comprising a movable member and means for imparting a plurality of reciprocal Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each,

movements thereto while the doll is moved from an erect to a recumbent position, or vice versa.

5. In a doll, eye operating mechanism,

comprising a movable member, means for imparting a plurality of reciprocal movements thereto while the doll is moved from an erect to a recumbent position, or vice versa, and means for terminating said movement when the member has last moved in a given direction and the doll is in a recumbent position, and for terminating it when the member has last moved in the opposite direction and the doll is in an erect position.

6. In a doll, eye operating mechanism, comprising a movable member, means for imparting a plurality of reciprocal move ments thereto while the doll is moved from an erect to a recumbent position, or vice versa, means for terminating said move ment when the member has last moved in a given direction and the doll is in a recumbent position, and for terminating it when the member has last moved in the opposite direction and the doll is in an erect position, and means for amplifying said terminal movements.

7 In a doll, eye operating mechanism, comprising a movable member, an operating element having a to and fro movement,

and means for imparting a plurality of reciprocal movements to said member by a movement of said element either to or fro.

8. In a doll, eye operating mechanism comprising a shaft to which the eyes are secured, a crank on said shaft, a toothed segment pivotally mounted so that as the segment rocks to and fro the teeth thereon reciprocate the crank and oscillate the shaft; means for limiting the movement of the segment so that at one extremity thereof the crank will be in engagement with a tooth and at the other extremity of said movement the crank will lie in a depression, said tooth being more prominent and said depression more pronounced than the intermediate teeth and depressions.

JOHN MITCHELL DAVIDSON.

by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0. 

